Our 2015 Christmas cards!

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This is my third year of designing our own Christmas cards (using what little skills I have in Photoshop Elements!) and I am SO pleased with how they turned out. For the past several years we’ve had professional pictures taken around the holidays but we skipped the photo shoot this year. Instead I collected photos throughout our year and I love the story that they will tell to friends and family: This is what 2015 looked like for Team Wharton.

The card design was inspired by Sara’s Christmas card round up. Initially I thought I would order a card from Etsy and have someone else arrange our photos. But then I realized that it would be just as much work to collect the photos and transfer them to someone else as to put together a simple design myself. So that’s what I did!

Photo Dec 04, 9 09 52 AM

Using Photoshop Elements I created a 5 x 7 inch Christmas card, saved it as a JPEG and uploaded it to GotPrint to create a 5 x 7 postcard. In the past I’ve used Overnight Prints and have been happy with them but was curious to try a new service, plus the shipping on Overnight Prints can be steep. I paid about $27 for 100 cards. The envelopes weren’t included (as they are with Overnight Prints) and so I picked up 100 craft paper envelopes at a craft store for about $10.

Fun Kelsey fact: I get VERY excited about the Christmas stamp design each year, and I’m also really judgy about it. The holiday baubles from a few year ago: not a fan. The Charlie Brown Christmas collection this year: APPROVE!

On the first night that I sat down to address cards I felt like I wrote and sealed envelopes forever and yet barely made it half way down my list. We are truly rich in dear friends and family and I am so very grateful.

Wishing you and your family a cozy and very happy holiday this year!

With love, 
Team Wharton

Our 2014 cards (note mention of holiday stamps), 2013 cards, 2012 cards and 2011 cards.

17 responses to “Our 2015 Christmas cards!”

  1. Misti Avatar
    Misti

    I designed my own this year for the first time. It was a lot easier than I expected, too. I ended up just printing them as photos from Snapfish but I like the idea of something heavier, so I will keep that in mind next year.

    I also like your layout idea! Good idea!

    Reply
    1. Kelsey Avatar
      Kelsey

      It’s so satisfying to do your own! Especially when you see the cost of Christmas cards. Good job to you!

      Reply
  2. AshleyM Avatar
    AshleyM

    I feel like I could have written this exact post, especially the last part about not loving the ornament stamps and addressing envelopes. This is our first Christmas card with our son and it feels even more special to send cards out.

    I’ve designed ours the last few years and I have loved doing so! It is definitely less expensive and more fun. I keep an eye out throughout the year for my favorite picture and if I don’t get one, I’ll usually have a friend snap a good one around Thanksgiving. This year I had a little home photoshoot with my son and made little booklets through Overnight Prints (I did this for his birth announcement too- prices are great during a sale!) so I could include a lot of pictures. We live in Maryland and our families live in Texas, so I want to send them extra pictures of the baby. It’s hard for them that we’re so far away. (I am sure you understand this feeling!)

    Anyway, sorry to have written such a long comment. I read this post right before my drive home and I kind of teared up during the drive home thinking about being thankful for friends and family and my own little family. Hope you guys are having a joyful Christmas season so far!

    Reply
    1. Kelsey Avatar
      Kelsey

      Awww, this is so sweet. It is so special to send our Christmas cards including your baby for the first time! I love the idea of a booklet, I can think of some family members who would love that. enjoy’s your first Christmas as a family of three!

      Reply
  3. Rachel Cassinat Avatar
    Rachel Cassinat

    You are so talented in everything you set out to do! I feel slight jealousy, but mostly I am inspired by you! Love the cards and the Wharton’s!

    Reply
    1. Kelsey Avatar
      Kelsey

      You should have witnessed all the cursing that occurred over the months when Erica and I were trying to learn Photoshop Elements (Elements! Not even the real Photoshop).

      Reply
  4. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    So cute! I ordered photo Christmas cards for T and I this year from Tiny Prints, only because I was ordering a “first Christmas” ornament for us and the shipping was the same no matter what. I feel kinda weird about sending a card with a photo of just the two of us—no kids yet!—but I think I remember Erica saying that she and Mr. Ladd did it before they had kids?

    Maybe next year I’ll be brave enough to design our own!

    Reply
    1. Amanda Avatar
      Amanda

      And I just looked at your Christmas cards from previous years and see you sent them before kiddos, too! Haha isn’t it funny the things we can get insecure about? I told myself, Tony and I are a family even without kids!

      Reply
    2. Kelsey Avatar
      Kelsey

      DEFINITELY send Christmas cards even if you don’t have kids!! Erica and I have both done in! Your friends and family will love getting them.

      Reply
    3. Natanya Avatar
      Natanya

      I sent cards of just my husband and I before we had our son. I loved it! It last the whole year on my in-laws’ fridge 🙂 Plus, what fun to see the progression of your family over time with the cards. You’re still a family, even with just the two of you!

      Reply
    4. Amanda Avatar
      Amanda

      Thanks for the encouragement! They’re all done and mailed! (Although they’ll probably be late since they have so far to travel haha.)

      I was wondering, do you include a handwritten note with the cards too? Or just let the message on the card be it? Since it’s my first time sending photo Christmas cards, I wasn’t sure what the norm was. I even googled it!

      Reply
    5. Amanda Avatar
      Amanda

      Thanks! I sent them! That’s one of the things I’m excited about… seeing how our family grows over the years. Merry Christmas!

      Reply
  5. Natanya Avatar
    Natanya

    Kelsey, these are ADORABLE. Love the multi-pic format. I might just have to borrow that too 🙂 We aren’t Christian so I don’t send “Christmas” cards per se, I usually send them out around Jan 1 for New Years. I’m hoping we can get our wedding photographer to do a family shoot so I can get a really good few pics of us at this time of our lives. Plus, 6-month old babies are just the juiciest! I’m sure we would have a hard time picking just one for the card. Many pictures of him sounds more realistic 😉

    Reply
    1. Kelsey Avatar
      Kelsey

      Awww, thank you! As I said I definitely got the design idea from someone else so please do repurpose for your own card! I think it is a fun way to share many photos and tell some snippets from your life (you know that grandmas and aunts especially love it!). And I definitely support any opportunities for photo shoots, it feels like everything is so memorable but so many changes and happens, you’ll be so glad to have these to help jog your memory as the years pass by.

      Reply
  6. Kristy Avatar
    Kristy

    They look so awesome and professional! Love how authentic they are too. You amaze me!

    Reply
    1. Kelsey Avatar
      Kelsey

      Aww, thanks Kristy! I promise that with some rudimentary Photoshop skills and a design to copy from it’s really not too hard. I think the starting early and giving yourself time to do it is the biggest challenge!

      Reply
  7. Amanda L Avatar
    Amanda L

    I know this is an old post, but I’m just catching up 🙂 Love the Christmas cards, but I am so curious which paper you chose? I am always unhappy with my selection. I am a paper quality ignoramus.

    Reply

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